The United States Embassy in Zambia conveyed its congratulations to President Hakainde Hichilema this Thursday after his reelection was confirmed with more than 60% of the votes, in elections questioned due to criticisms of the detentions of prominent opposition leaders during the electoral process.
"The United States congratulates President Hichilema on his reelection. For 62 years, the United States and Zambia have built a strong and lasting partnership. We look forward to continuing our work with President Hichilema's administration and the Zambian people to advance shared economic prosperity, regional peace and security, and global health," the U.S. mission in Lusaka has indicated.
Hichilema has secured a new five-year mandate, supported by the historic copper production on the African continent and by the appreciation of the Zambian kwacha against other currencies.
However, the election was marred by episodes of political violence that forced the Electoral Commission to temporarily halt the counting. The body reported that the incidents were directed "against electoral staff" and resulted in the "theft of marked ballots from the boxes."
Hichilema assumed the head of state in 2021, in his fifth attempt to reach the presidency, taking advantage of the weariness of the previous president, Edgar Lungu, whose popularity was seriously damaged by the economic and social crisis that Zambia was going through, intensified by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.